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There’s a reason Kauai is known as the Garden Island: Covered in lush rainforests and verdant vegetation, Hawaii’s oldest island is famous for its abundance of plant life. The thriving landscape is a result of Kauai’s subtropical climate, which provides the island with plentiful sunshine, year-round 70-degree days, and a tremendous amount of rainfall. In fact, Kauai receives some amount of precipitation 144 days per year, and Mount Waialeale has even been called one of the wettest spots in the world, averaging about 450 inches of rain annually. 

Hanalei Bay on Kauai’s north shore receives nearly 30 inches of rain annually.

Though you probably chose Kauai as your vacation destination for its fair-weather activities—relaxing on sun-soaked beaches, touring the island via helicopter, hiking rugged trails, snorkeling in the Pacific Ocean—rain in the forecast can disrupt those plans. But don’t fret: With a little preparation, a rainy day can be one of your best days on Kauai! Here’s how to make the most of a wet-weather day with a little help from Lydgate Farms. 

Always Have a Plan B

When it rains, it can pour on Kauai, making it no fun to lay on the beach, go on a muddy hike, or hang out by the hotel pool. With the wind that Kauai storms can have, rainy weather is also often the cause of canceled helicopter tours, Na Pali Coast cruises, and golf excursions. So, if you see rain in the forecast, having a plan B is a good idea. Look for activities with a low chance of being canceled by rainy weather. Our top-rated Chocolate Farm tour, island spa treatments, and boutique browsing are excellent options, rain or shine.

Embrace the Rain

Kauai is a tropical paradise, and because of that, indoor activities are few and far between. Without a traditional movie theater on the island, indoor activities are limited to exploring your hotel, shopping, and dining. Instead of spending precious vacation time indoors, visitors should embrace the rain and head outside anyway. To stay comfortable in the rain, make sure to pack waterproof shoes and a rain jacket. If you can’t fit your rain essentials into your suitcase, don’t fret – Lydgate Farms has you covered. Our chocolate tasting is done under covered lanais, and plenty of oversized umbrellas are available for use during our farm tours.

Lydgate Farm Tour guests listen to a guide under a covered lanai.

Look for Highly Rated Things To Do When It Rains

Ranked Kauai’s #1 rainy-day activity on Tripadvisor and the #1 Best Guided Tour in Hawaii Magazine’s 2023 Readers’ Choice Awards, Lydgate Farms’ tour and chocolate tasting are sure to add some sweetness to a rained-out day. Our fifth-generation family-run farm grows high-quality cacao to create the finest Hawaiian craft chocolate. The three-hour interactive tour provides guests with an in-depth look at how our premium Hawaiian chocolate is made—from growing cacao trees; to harvesting, fermenting, and sun-drying cacao beans; to crafting specialty dark and milk chocolate bars. Visitors will also see and taste other fruits grown on the farm, including Tahitian lime, lychee, eggfruit, bananas, and more. Better yet, each educational tour ends with an extensive chocolate tasting and comparison that explores the complex and diverse flavors of Hawaiian cacao.

Rain or shine, we offer farm tours and tastings five days a week, Monday-Friday. Tours can sell out quickly; book your spot today.

Guests stay dry on rainy days thanks to our large umbrellas and covered lanais

Taste Authentic Hawaiian Rum

Another tasty thing to do when it rains on Kauai is to beat the bad weather with a buzz. The first licensed distillery on Kauai, Koloa Rum Company offers guided tastings of their single-batch, premium rums every hour at their tasting room in Lihue. Guests can also sip on craft rum cocktails—from Gold Rum Mai Tais to Pineapple Passion Cocktails—and purchase bottles of rum in a variety of flavors, including Kauai Cacao, a smooth, mocha-flavored rum infused with cacao nibs from Lydgate Farms. And if you can’t get enough of the authentic Hawaiian spirits, try our 75% dark chocolate bar infused with Koloa rum.

Lydgate Farms has partnered with Kauai’s own Koloa Rum to create a chocolate bar with a symphony of Kauai flavor and depth. Our single-origin cacao nibs are steeped in Koloa Rum for up to 18 days to create Koloa Rum’s signature Kauai Cacao Rum. Once the Cacao Rum has steeped, the rum-infused beans are returned to Lydgate Farm and refined with organic cane sugar to produce this 75% Dark Chocolate with Koloa Hawaiian Rum Bar. The bar contains no alcohol.

Treat Yourself To a Spa Day

Melt your stress away with a therapeutic massage rooted in Hawaiian tradition. Introduced in Kauai by early Polynesians, lomi lomi is a type of massage that aims to restore balance and harmony in the body, mind, and spirit. Often, lomi lomi massages incorporate other traditional Hawaiian techniques, such as the use of hot stones, herbal poultices, and essential oils, to promote healing and relief of tension. Make an appointment at Aloha Moon Spa or Elevate Wellness Kauai (both just a short drive from Lydgate Farms). After your massage, extend your day of indulgence with a dose of antioxidants from one of our 70% dark chocolate bars. 

Lydgate guests can purchase our fine Hawaiian chocolate on-site.

Browse Island Shops and Boutiques

Kauai is a shopper’s paradise. With a multitude of small businesses and high-end boutiques to browse, it is easy to give the gift of Aloha to your loved ones—and yourself. Start by perusing the many luxury boutiques within the Kukui’ula shopping center in Poipu. You’ll find original Hawaiian fashion, fine jewelry, local art, handcrafted beauty products, and more. Then venture to one of Kauai’s unique small towns like Hanapepe, Kapaa, Kilauea, or Hanalei, where you’ll find a multitude of unique small businesses and one-of-a-kind gifts. Don’t miss the Aloha Spice Company in Hanapepe or Trilogy Coffee in Kilauea. Both stock Lydgate Farms premium Kauai-grown craft chocolate.

A woman making a lei from ferns and ti leaf.

Immerse Yourself in Hawaiian Culture and Tradition

One of the best parts of visiting Hawaii is the opportunity to engage with the unique history, language, and traditions of the islands. For example, did you know there are more than 200 words for rain in the Hawaiian Language? It’s true. Each word is unique, nuanced, and worth learning more about, just like Hawaii’s vibrant culture. Make the most of a rainy day by checking with your hotel accommodations or the Hawaii Tourism Authority for opportunities to learn about Hawaiian cultural arts through kapa cloth and lei-making workshops, weaving classes, or hula lessons. 

Though Kauai’s rainy season is November–March, storms can occur year-round. So while you’re planning your Hawaiian vacation, it’s always best to have activities in mind for wet-weather days. Rain or shine, Lydgate Farms’ tours run reliably, and our whole team works hard to keep guests as comfortable as possible when the weather changes. Plan your visit today and shop our online store for an authentic taste of Kauai you can share with friends and family. Book now at lydgatefarms.com.